Dredging apparatus.



J. USTERVQLD. DREDGING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATIN FILED JAN. 8, 1909.

Patented Jan.25,1910.

I? UUR/JE VS WIT/VESSEL? lllldlflllltll@ liteit @ffllfllm JOHNOSTERVOLD, OF WESTPORT, OREGON, ASSIGNR F ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH R. BURKE,OF CATHLAli/IET, WASHNGTN.

DREDGING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 8, 1909. Serial No. 471,293.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that l, Jol-1N (ls'rnnvonn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of llestport, in the county of Clatsop and State ofGreg-on, have invented a new and .improved Dredging Apparatus, of whichthe following a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to dredging apparatus, and particularly ltoapparatus of this kind in which an endless flexible band or cable isarranged with one of its runs in contact with the shoal, and havingmeans for its continuous operation, so that all points of the band aresuccessively drawn along the shoal to loosen the sand or other materialforming the same, and to permit it to be washed away by the tides orcurrents.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient dredgingapparatus for removing sand-bars, shoals and the like in rivers, harborsand water-ways, which requires little power for its operation, and whichcan be adjusted for use with shoals or other obstructions of' differentsizes.

A further object of the invention to provide apparatus of the classdescribed which can be easily moved from place to place, which iscontinuous in its operation, and in which the normal currents, tides orother water movements are utilized to distribute and carry away thematerial loosened from thesand-banks, shoals or other obstructions.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobc more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of refer ence indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which-- Figure 1 shows mydredging apparatus in operation to remove a sand-bank at the bottom of ariver or harbor; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section showing one ofthe floats which control the movement of the endless flexible band orcable; and l? ig. 3 is a side view of a detail of modified form.

Before proceeding to a more detailed eX- planation of my invention, itshould be understood that the same is particularly use ful in water-wayswhich have tidal or other currents. The apparatus does not actuallyremove the sand or other material. forming the obstructions, but merelyloosens the same so that the, currents themselves, dissipate or carryaway theloosened material.

The endless flexible member which l employ consists preferably, of asteel cable of suitable, uniform cross-section. However,

if desired, the cable may be replaced by any other band or memberadapted for the pur pose. l have shown, for example, a prime mover foroperating the cable, which consists of an internal combustion motor, butl wish to emphasize that l have illustrated this form for conveniencemerely, and that any type of prime mover adapted to the purpose can beused. Furthermore, the form of the floats, the method of connectingthem, and the vessels or barges used to hold them in position, do notform essential elements of my invention but can be varied to suitindividnal preference or special conditions. This is likewise true ofthe means for anchoring or mooring the vessels.

Refi-firing more particularly to the drawings, I provide a vesselconsisting of a barge, pontoon, or of any other suitable form, andhaving at one end a projecting platform 11 carrying a substantiallyhori- Zontal shaft 12.- The latter has a peripherally grooved wheel orsheave 13 rigid therewith, and a sprocket or pulley 14'. The 'vessel 10carries the prime mover 15 opw eratively connected by means of a belt 16or in any other convenient manner, with the pulley lll. The vessel 10 issecured in position by means of an anchor chain 17, or is moored in anyother manner adapted to the purpose. A second and similar vessel 18 ismoored by means of an anchor chain 19 or is otherwise held in position,at a point remote from the vessel 10 and at the side of the sand bank A,which is to be removed, remote from the vessel 10. The vessel 18 has aprojecting platform 2O carrying a shaft 2l having a periph erallygrooved wheel or sheave 22.

Between the vessels 10 and 18 are arranged in alinement, a number offloats 23, the adjacent ones of which are joined by chains 24: orconnected in any other manner adapted to the purpose. The end floats 23are similarly secured to the vessels 10 and 18 respectively. Each of thefloats has a U- shaped bracket 25 mounted thereon with the legsdepending at the sides of the float. Be-

tween the legs of the brackets are pins 26 which have rotatable groovedrollers or sheaves 27.

An endless flexible band 28, consisting of a cable or the like, has thelower run 29 arranged in contact with the sand-bank A and the upper run30 guidingly carried by the sheaves 27. The band passes over the shafts21 and l2 and is driven or caused continuously to advance by the latter,which is in turn driven by the prime mover 15. ln this way,the flexiblemember is dragged along the surface of the sand-bank and all points ofit come successively into contact therewith. As the band is drawn alongthe bottom it loosens the material of the same and allows this materialto be gradually washed away or distributed by the currents in the water.

The length of the endless cable depends upon the depth of the water inwhich the 0peration is carried on, and also upon the distance betweenthe vessels l0 and 18, which is determined by the length of the shoal orsand bank undergoing removal. The direction of travel of the lower runof the endless cable should be the same as the tidal or currentdirection, to facilitate the carrying away of the material. The cableshould preferably be operated at a fairly high rate of speed.

By the provision of two vessels l0 and 18 securely moored in place, theseries of floats is maintained vin alinement and the operation of thecable is thereby rendered positive and efcient. The vessels, if sodesired, may be power-driven to facilitate theirv movement from oneplace to another.

It may be found convenient to attach the bracket-s and sheaves to thechains 24 instead of the floats 23. This arrangement which is shown inFig. 3, can be advantageously employed in rough water, where thepitching of the floats would tend to interfere with the operation of thecable.

It should be understood that the movement of the cable will itself setup a current in the water to remove the loosened material., and that byarranging the cable suitably, the material can be transferred to anddeposited at any predetermined point.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent l. ln dredging apparatus, spaced supports, a series offloats arranged between said supports, an endless. flexible bandarranged between said supports. means for operating said band, pulleysfor guiding the upper run of said band, and connections between thepulleys and said floats, the lower run of said band being arranged tomove iu Contact with the obstruction to be removed.

Q. In dredging` apparatus. vessels adapted to be held stationary, aseries of spaced tloats arranged between said vessels and t'lexiblysecured successively together. said t'toats being secured to saidvessels, an endless` tlexi- 'ble band arranged between said vessels.pulleys for `guiding a run of said band along` the line of said floats,said band having the lower run thereof in Contact with the bottom, and amotor for continuously propelling said band.

3. In dredging apparatus, vessels adapted to be held stationary, aseries ot tioats allned between said vessels and secured thereto, saidvessels having sheaves.l and said tloats having sheaves, an endlessflexible band arranged t'o travel over said sheaves and having the lowerrun thereof in contact with the bottom, and means for driving thesheaves of one of said vessels, continuously to propel i said band.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing` witnesses.

JOHN OS'lEll-VOLI).

YVitnesses J. BRUCE PoLwAR'rI-r, E. S. SNELLING.

